Thanks to artificial intelligence, wind turbine faults can often be avoided
Some 1,500 sensors monitor the smooth operation of a wind facility. Artificial intelligence (AI), however, also reports deviations and irregularities. It is then the task of AI specialists to discern possible faults from this data and, together with service technicians, prevent a turbine failure. Such AI assistance is already saving EnBW €10 million a year. We reveal here how Josef Feigl and Meik Schlechtingen work.
Modern power purchase agreements are helping companies to instantly access green electricity
For the EnBW He Dreiht offshore wind farm in the North Sea or a solar park near Rostock – in both cases, EnBW has concluded long-term power purchase agreements (PPA), thereby helping to finance each of the projects. The advantage for companies: By signing a PPA, they can secure the purchase of 100% green electricity from nonsubsidized power plants. For a period of 15 years, EnBW will act as an intermediary between operators and electricity users for the supply of 100% green electricity.
From coal to natural gas and how hydrogen is set to become the fuel of the future
A fuel switch involves gradually converting coal power plants to run on natural gas. Doing so cuts carbon emissions, reduces the emission of nitrogen oxides and entirely eliminates heavy metals. The conversion of coal power plants to gas power plants is just an intermediate step. The aim is to achieve emission-free operation using green hydrogen. EnBW is already producing high-purity hydrogen in pilot projects. Read here the reason why this is also partly rocket science. Meanwhile, modern gas turbines will be able to process up to 75% mixed hydrogen in the new power plants of the future.
EnBW and Siemens Energy are jointly working on ways of using hydrogen as a climate-friendly fuel in power plants in the future. At the heart of it all are two state-of-the-art gas turbines.
(Picture: Siemens Energy)